, 1887-07-14

tsSn. anntf' o. HIIulD EtOl ana
an old resident Of Eastern Washing
ton, says he has never seen the equal
Of the present crops IN the inland
empire. He thinks the output Of
wheat il the PalouSe country, with
It's increase Uf = third ia acreage.
will exceed 100000 tons. running the
Walla Wal!a valley production close
The country surrounding Perham.
Minn., IS alive with locusts and every
whsrC the grass and streets are COW
cred with them. On 4 clear day mil
lions can be seen going as the wind
carries them. Crops are entirely de-
strOyed on over 10000 acres Of land
and vegetables III many places are
being destroyed To the roots. Their
ravages have only begun and the in
crease OF insectsi Is beyond computa-
ton.
Independence Day reception aJ the
American Legation in London was the
largest ever held. Among the guests
were James Russell Lowell, Mr., and
Mrs. James &. Blaine and Miss
Blaine. Minister Phelps proposed
The Fourth; No Country to an
American Like Home" The toast
was responded to by Blaine, who said
The United States Is the only coun-
try with known birthday. All the
rest began they know not when, and
grew into power they knew not how.
If there had been no Fourth, England
and America combined would not to-
day be SO great as each actually is e.
There Is no republican, no democrat,
today; all are Americans" Great
enthusiasm was manifested. There
We're $500 guests at Minister Phelps
reception, including many notables.
On the 18th of September, 178T,
our national constitution became the
law of the land and it would be en-
inently proper to celebrate the CEN
tenniai anniversary of an event so
important. The New York World
with great good will says: There
are great many people in the United
States whose knowledge of the con-
stitution is very limited and the day,
properly made use Of, might exercise
wide and valuable educational in
tiuence. If arrangements could be
made IN every great and little center
of population for some capable citi-
zen of each locality to publicly read
this creed of the republic and ex-
plain the difficulties of its adoption
and the essential principles, won
derful amount of ignorance would be
dissipated. A general system of
local celebrations upon the old fash
ioned Fourth OF July plan would be
happy thing to adopt"
The Skagit Nelrs of tho 5th inst.
says surveying parties of the West
Coast railroad are now in the field
between the Snohomish and Skagit
rivers. The Skagit river will be fully
prospected for bridge, and the loca-
ton of crossing will largely infu-
ence the location of the line of the
road. Active building operations will
be under full headway on this end of
the route some time in August, and
We confidently expect ere July 1,
1883, to hear the familiar toot of the
locomotive in the Skagit Valley.
While no one knows exactly who is
backing this enterprise, yet there is
scarcely doubt that it is being built
by Canadian capital, and will, no
doubt, be run in the interest of the
Canadian Pacific. At present large
force OF men are engaged in clearing
and grading the section of the road
between Snohomish City and Seattle,
and the contractors are advertising
for more men, to whom they are pay
ing 1925 and $3.50 per day
Commissioner Sparks of the gen
eral land Office has received Il letter
from a public land entryman in
eastern Colorado, staining that the
drought has already damaged the
croF in that section, and that If it
continues muGa longer, the crops
will be complete failure; that in
sects have damaged the Vegetables,
and there is no feed for the stock.
The entryrnan states that his neigh
bors are forced to leave their holdings
to obtain the necsssaries OF life, and
asks if this absence will operate to
defoat their claim when the fual
proofs, if any proof are offered. The
commissioners answer is impor-
tant, as it indicates the policy of the
general land Office with respect to
those cases, of which it is stated there
are large number in different parts
of the west. The commissioner says:
"The distressing situation you have
mentioned appeals to MY strong
sympathy in favor of actual settlers
IN the public domain who are suffer
ing from drought and the loss of
crops and whatever relief may b.
possible within tho discretion of this
Cf1ice will be extended 20 enable them
to preserve their claims. Settlers
who are obliged TO leave their claims
on account of drought should be pre-
pared to account for their absence
from this cause, when they make final
proof, but in such cases proof should
not be offered until the law be fully
complied with after their return tc
the land in enforced absence on &C.
count of climatic reasons will not i'm
peril the claims if the fact is estab-
lished when proof is made; and il
proof is not attempted to be made il
advance OF him when the residence
and improvement and cultivation re-
quired by law can be satisfactorily
shown"
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